How Many Periods Are in Hockey?

A standard ice hockey game has 3 periods, each lasting 20 minutes of play, for 60 minutes of regulation time. There are two intermissions between the periods.

Here's how it works:

• 3 periods × 20 minutes = 60 minutes of regulation play (in the NHL and most leagues)
• Intermissions are usually about 15–18 minutes
• If the score is tied after three periods, the game goes to overtime, followed by a shootout if still tied (in the regular season)

A couple of variations to note:

• Playoff overtime in the NHL uses full 20-minute sudden-death periods instead of a shootout.
• Field hockey is different — it is typically played in 4 quarters of about 15 minutes each, not 3 periods.

So when people say hockey has "periods," they almost always mean ice hockey's three 20-minute periods.